Receptacle for use in cleaning paintroller sleeves or the like



March 29, 1955 P. ZELKOWITZ 2,704,931

RECEPTACLE FOR USE IN CLEANING PAINT-ROLLER SLEEVES OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 4. 1952 P/zz'lzp BY M Aiionzqy United States Patent RECEPTACLE FOR USE IN CLEANING PAINT- ROLLER SLEEVES OR THE LIKE Philip Zelkowitz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Empire Oil Company, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 4, 1952, Serial No. 307,778

2 Claims. (Cl. 68-213) This invention relates to a receptacle for facilitating the cleansing and storage of fabric sleeves as used on a roller for applying paint and the like.

In recent years the painting of walls, etc. by means of a roll-type applicator has, to a substantial extent, supplanted bristle brushes. Nearly all nonprofessionals, e. g. householders doing home painting, find these rollers far easier to use and less expensive than brushes but, as is the case with many home craftsmen, great laxity is encountered in the proper cleaning and care of the roller sleeve. In this connection it will be recognized that such fabric rollers must be thoroughly cleaned after each use, otherwise the dried paint is thereafter practically irremovable and the sleeve must be replaced. Moreover, assuming proper cleaning, storage of the sleeve presents another problem in that if it is immediately replaced on the mandrel of the applicator with the intention of thereby preserving its shape full opportunity to dry out is not afforded, and any residual paint can cause adhesion between the sleeve and mandrel. On the other hand if the sleeve, flaccid following saturation with the paint solvent is left freely to dry, its inherent weight combined with the circular cross section, may cause permanent deformation.

In view of the foregoing the principal object of my invention is to provide a receptacle to facilitate the cleaning of the sleeve following each use.

Another object is the provision of a receptacle for the function aforesaid in which the sleeve may be stored between each use.

Still another object is to provide a receptacle of glass or equivalent low cost material in order that the user may purchase several without stint, and thus care for more than one sleeve at a time, or, if the receptacle has been used often so that the sediment has accumulated the same may be scrapped.

Other objects will appear from the following description which, taken together with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a vertical medial cross section through the receptacle and the therein-carried sleeve and solvent; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In respect of the following description it Wlll be understood that the type of sleeve to which the invention particularly adapted comprises a woven body having a pile incorporated therewith for holding and applying the paint, is in the form of a cylinder from two to mne inches in length and has a more or less standard internal diameter of 1 /2 inches. Having regard to the foregoing considerations the invention, broadly contemplated, lies in providing a jar having a capacity suflicient to contam the amount of solvent calculated to clean a sleeve in average condition, i. e. saturated with paint. Within the jar there is secured a vertical mandrel for receiving the sleeve and, for economy in manufacture, I prefer that the mandrel be integrally molded with the jar. Such mandrel is preferably externally fluted to define with the interior of the sleeve, a plurality of axially extending passages through which the solvent may circulate, thereby to assist in the cleansing operation. In order to avoid compacting of the lower end of the sleeve the same may be made a reasonably snug fit on the mandrel, and a frusto-conical ledge at the lower end of the mandrel may also be provided to minimize the area which the lower margin of the sleeve may contact. Additionally the mandrel may be so spaced from the floor of the jar as to insure that sediment settling out of the solvent may find a well, and thus avoid contact between the sediment and cleaned sleeve. A screw cap is provided for the jar in order that, following positioning of the sleeve and pouring in of the solvent, the cap may be replaced and the whole shaken. Preferably the jar is of such diameter as to facilitate the gripping thereof between the hands.

Turning to the drawing the jar proper includes a preferably cylindrical outer wall 10, a bottom wall 11, a base part 12 and a cylindrical post 13. While, for cheapness and expediency of manufacture the foregoing components are molded as a unit, it will be comprehended that the post 13, or the post 13 and base 12 may be separately fabricated and assembled with the container in any desired manner.

The height of the base part 12 is selected so as to define a well 17 for receiving the solids washed out of the roller over a period of time. Thus, one of the important advantages of the low cost of the invention is realized for, when the well 17 is full, the entire unit may be discarded and replaced. If desired the jar may be sold filled with a suitable solvent thus to afford the average householder an added convenience.

Preferably the curved surface of the post 13 is fluted, as indicated by the ribs 18, to provide a plurality of vertical channels 19 for facilitating circulation of the solvent 21 through and about the sleeve 22 carried thereon to expedite the cleansing thereof. It is not necessary that the sleeve 22 be received tightly on the post 13, since removal may then be diflicult. However if the sleeve is loosely received on the post there may be a tendency for gravity to mat or fringe the lower margin of the sleeve. To obviate this undesirable contingency the enlargement 23 defined by the base 12 may be tapered, as shown. Thus no horizontal flat surface is presented to the sleeve, and against which pressure may be exerted. The ribs 18 and channels 19 may be continued over the junction 23 further to facilitate circulation of the solvent.

The jar is closed with a screw cap 26 of metal, plastic or other inexpensive material faced on its underside with a gasket 27. Assuming the frugal user would not want to discard a jar containing a good deal of sediment but would prefer to clean the same, the jar is preferably made of uniform internal diameter from top to bottom. Accordingly the use of a swab for cleaning is facilitated.

It will have become apparent from the preceding that I have provided a utensil for cleaning and preserving a paint roller sleeve, which simply requires placing the sleeve over the post, replacing the cap and thoroughly shaking the whole. The solids flushed out of the sleeve precipitate rapidly to leave the sleeve properly supported in relatively clean solvent until re-use. If desired the post 13 may be provided in multiple in a single contamer.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An implement for the cleansing and storage of a sleeve for a paint roller or the like comprising an opentop receptable for holding a quantity of solvent and including a flat bottom wall, an exteriorly, longitudinally fluted post upstanding from said wall over which the sleeve may be positioned, said post having an enlarged bottom portion defining with the remainder of the post a shoulder for abutment by the sleeve for fixing the lowest position thereof, the interior surfaces of the lateral wall of the receptacle and the bottom wall respectively on the one hand, and the interior surface of the bottom wall and the exterior surface of the post, respectively, on the other hand meeting at right angles to define a well having a substantially rectangular cross section for reception of sediment.

2. An implement for the cleansing and storage of a sleeve for a paint roller or the like comprising an opentop receptacle for holding a quantity of solvent, said receptacle having a cylindrical, lateral wall, a circular bottom wall and a circular closure wall for the top, at least one of the circular walls including an inwardly directed cylindrical post including means for receiving the sleeve in frictional engagement, said means being constituted as axially-extended interruptions in the peripheral extent of the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 

